The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), in association with the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, posted a warning today (posted below in italics) for pilots regarding concern over misfuelling as new unleaded fuels of varying types and octane levels are starting to make their way to market. It cautions pilots to ensure their aircraft – particularly those requiring high-octane fuels – are not misfueled with “the wrong type, grade, or mix of fuel.”
When we only had 100LL, there was no options.
Now, there are 3 fuels, with more on the way, which makes it very important to know what fuels are available at a next fuel stop.!
How do we know when a new fuel is available, other than calling the FBO, fuel supplier. ?
We are now ’ living in interesting times’.
As long as you just fly in circles over your home airport all will be well.
I can’t believe this 100UL fiasco could get anymore screwed up. I guess I was wrong.
Just when I’m at the point of financial stability in my life when I could afford a nice airplane, along comes “fuel uncertainty” to cause me to not make the investment in the “big block” high performance single I have longed for — seemingly forever.
I’m not going to sink a sizable chunk of money into a machine that will be transformed into a “lead sled” by the swipe of a regulator’s pen.
I mean, look at California, for example…. GA’s “stake in the heart” is fuel. You know it … I know it… we all do.
As a rental pilot, I’m afraid of the FBO hanging me with any and all damage associated with a miss fueling event. Especially when there’s no choices of fuel at the airports i land at. This whole fiasco was well planned and thought out prior to implementation.
“It is important to note that while the new unleaded fuels are designed to mix with 100LL, it remains uncertain whether they can be safely mixed with each other. Until more information is available, unleaded fuels must not be combined.
I can’t believe someone actually wrote this. The statement eclipses “Dumb and Dumber” by a magnitude yet to be determined.
“Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight.”
You also routinely have 3, often 4, and sometimes 5 different fuels at a gas station to choose from for a rental car. How often do you put diesel in a Kia?
With GAMI and Swift taking the lead (no pun intended) on bringing a 100LL replacement to market, EAGLE must have felt the need to to do something to remain relevant.
My company is going a different route. Getting diesel engines approved on airplanes. Unleaded fuel will take years (decades) to reach every corner of the earth. Jet A and diesel is already there.
In ForeFlight (and I would assume the other platforms as well?) I can turn on a map layer to show where Avgas is sold, and for how much. Understanding that at present the places selling unleaded are few and far between, nevertheless I would find it worthwhile if they would add a layer that shows us where UL fuels can be had. It would help us to make use of the fuels as well as visualize the advance of its availability.
